Method for upgrading petroleum residuum and heavy crude oil

Abstract

A method for upgrading a petroleum material comprises charging the material into a vessel having a cylindrical wall, then heating the cylindrical wall. The petroleum material adjacent the wall is heated to a temperature sufficient to form a layer of carbon on the wall, and volatile material generated at the wall during the carbon formation passes through the bulk of the petroleum material thermally cracking it to form smaller molecules and simultaneously desulfurizing same.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method for upgrading a petroleum material comprising resid and heavy crude oil, to produce lighter liquids comprising: charging the petroleum material into a vessel having a cylindrical wall to cause said material to come into contact with said wall;   heating said wall to a temperature sufficient to cause said material which is adjacent said wall to form a layer of carbon against said wall and vaporize volatile matter which is emitted during the formation of carbon away from said heated wall; and   reacting said volatile matter with petroleum material which is not adjacent to said wall to thermally crack said petroleum material which is not adjacent to said wall to reduce the size of the molecular structure thereof and desulfurize that petroleum material which is not adjacent to said wall.   
     
     
       2. The method for upgrading a petroleum material according to claim 1, further comprising collecting the volatile material and condensing same to form a liquid portion and a non-condensable gaseous portion. 
     
     
       3. The method for upgrading a petroleum material according to claim 1, further comprising stripping the layer of carbon from the wall. 
     
     
       4. The method for upgrading a petroleum material according to claim 3, further comprising charging the carbon to a gasifier and forming a gas and ash from the carbon. 
     
     
       5. The method for upgrading a petroleum material according to claim 2, further comprising treating the non-condensable gaseous portion by contacting a hot sorbant to crack hydrocarbons contained in said gaseous portion to remove carbon and sulfur to yield a gas rich in hydrogen. 
     
     
       6. The method for upgrading a petroleum material according to claim 4, further comprising treating the gas with a sorbant to clean said gas. 
     
     
       7. The method for upgrading a petroleum material according to claim 4, wherein said gasifier is operated at a temperature sufficient to convert the ash to an inert slag. 
     
     
       8. The method for upgrading a petroleum material according to claim 1, wherein the petroleum material is adjacent the inside surface of the cylindrical wall. 
     
     
       9. The method for upgrading a petroleum material according to claim 1, wherein the petroleum material is adjacent the outside surface of the cylindrical wall. 
     
     
       10. The method for upgrading a petroleum material according to claim 1, wherein the petroleum material is charged into the vessel by spraying. 
     
     
       11. The method for upgrading a petroleum material according to claim 3, further comprising rotating the cylindrical wall while stripping the carbon therefrom. 
     
     
       12. The method for upgrading a petroleum material according to claim 1, further comprising injecting hydrogen into the vessel during the heating of the cylindrical wall. 
     
     
       13. The method for upgrading a petroleum material according to claim 1, further comprising introducing a catalyst into the vessel during the heating of the cylindrical wall.